Lubricating apparatus.



A. M. ALEXANDER.

LUBRICATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13. 1912.

Patented 001;. 19, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 WM/ESSAYS COLUMBIA I'LANOQIIAIII CLMWASHINGTON, I). c.

A. M. ALEXANDER.

LUBHICATING APPARATUS. 1

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13. 1912.

Pafented 1001.19, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

iJNiTE {STATES (W1C? ALEXANDER ALEXANDER-Q03 BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LUBRICATING APPARATUS.

ings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts inthe several figures. 7 I w This invention i'elatesto lubricatingap paratus. r I A .The invention has among its objects to provide an apparatus of this character which will handle the lubricating material economically; which will be reliable in op eration' and which will be automatic in action. a v 1 With these objects in-view, and particularly to the end that the apparatus may op; erate automatically, it is proposed to utilize the fluid pressure conditions existing be tween the friction surfaces to be lubricated to supply lubricating material to these sur;

faces. I have found that the relative movement of friction surfaces upon each other produces between them fluid pressures differing considerably in intensity at differentpoints. When, for instance, a journal rotates in its bearing there is produced around the journal for a considerable angular distance a positive pressure, while around an other part of the journal there is produced a region of negative pressure. The present invention provides an apparatus in which these pressure conditions are utilized to effect-the delivery of oil to the friction 7 surfaces. Furthermore, it provides an apparatus in which thepressures generated'at different points between the surfaces are enabled to cooperate in effecting the delivery of oil. A'further feature of air or other gas is utilized to deliver oil 7 to the parts to be lubricated. The required flow of air or gas may be created in various ways but, in the preferred construction,"-tlie fluid pressure conditions existing between the friction surfaces as above described are utilized for this purpose. Provision also is i Specification of Letters Patent.

of this invention consists in an arrangement in which a current lPatentedOct.19, 1915.

Application filed March 13, 1912. Serial No. 683,412.

made for controlling the flow of gas and thereby enabling the operator to regulate the rate of delivery of oil to the parts to be lubricated.

The invention will be clearly understood from the following description of one embodiment thereof, reference being made to V the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view in side elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view of the apparatus showing the arrangement of the'oil ducts. I

l 'i he apparatus shown comprises a bearing 20 having theusual bushing 22 in which a shaft 24 is rotatably supported and may be driven by a belt running over a pulley 26.

The bushing has two grooves 28 and 80 formed in its peripheral surface, which grooves may extend entirely around the bushing. A hole 32 is drilled through the bushing from the friction surface into the groove 28 at a point substantially in a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the shaft and another hole 3% is drilled through the opposite side of thebushing connecting the groove 30 I with the friction surface. The top of the bearing 20 is drilled and tappedas indicated at 86 to receive a threaded plug 38 having a flanged head and a machined upper face. Ducts a0 and 4:2 are drilled diagonally through the plug 38 and the. bearing 20 and open respectively into the grooves 28 and-30. These'ducts, however, do not communicate with each other.

Seatedupon the machined face of the plug 38 is a stem 44 of an oilcup or container;

3 andthis stein is drilled, as indicated at 46 and 48, to form two ducts designed to communicate respectively with the ducts 42 and 40. The stem is secured to the plug 38by a nut 50 having threads to engage the'threads' of the stem and a flanged portion to engage the flange of the plug 38 as shown in Fig. 3.

A cylindrical member e9, fitting snugly-into Y a seat formed at the upper end of thestem a4, constitutes the oil cup. This cup may be closed by a cover 51 fitted loosely thereon, and permitting air to enter the cup. The upper end oftlie stem 44 is recessed to rei8, the upper portion of this duct being en:

larged to provide seat for a small ball which forms a check valve. The plug 521s internally threaded to receive the threaded end of a short tube 56 and a duct 58, drilled downwardly from a point above the valve and at its upper end is curvedin substantially the form ofan inverted U to 001m munioate .with the tube or, duct 56. 1 An opening 66 is provided in the tube .64 above he level of the oil to afford accessgto the atmosphere at this point. If desirechboth the tube 6i and the member 49 may .beinade of glass so that the action of the. apparatus maybe seen. Y

' Assuming the shaft 24V to be I clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, a. negative pressure will be created-at the point where. the duct 34; opens into the bearing surface and a positive pres-.

' 1 sure will be generated at the oppositeside of the shaft wherethe duct 32"opens1intothe bearing. Consequently air will be. forced through the apertureBQ, the groove. 28, and

the ducts 4,0 and 48;.lifting the check valve- 5ifrom. its seat and passing-up through the oil in the duct 56in the form of bubbles.

. entrained by; each bubble is exceedingl-y small. It is important, in an'app'aratus are tation of the journal, the direction. and in.-

.tensity of the load which it carries, and the bubble breaks soon after passing the opening 661 and theoi'l forming the film of the bubble is urgedalong-the ducts 6.4:, 46, 42,30 and 34, by thecurrent of air flowing therethrough,

and is,.,carried into. the hearing. The ball valve 54 prevents oilffrorn flowing down the duct d8. While this apparatus in operation appears to carry oilover into the intake ductsvery rapidly,"the*actual transfer of oil is very slow, since the quantity of oil directionandintensity of the forceimparted to it by the driving means tending to press it laterally against the friction, surface. Befer-ring to Fig. 2, and assuming the shaft 24: to bedriven bya belt, the direction of load andwdirection of belt pull coinciding and both acting vertically downward upon the h tit ll e e t th ..w n. th haftrotated in a l V the friction These bubbles are carried above the surface of'the oil into the duct 6%.. Usually. each 7 modified so, that: the

he'shaft; butwhen the shaft-is rotated in a clockwise direction and is supplied with lubricating material, thepoint of maximum pressure will be shiftedi slightly-ftowardthe left. The amount of this shifting j will 'de Experiments have demonstrated that, at a point less than 970 ahead :(in the direction ofr tati'on) of this point of maximum pres- .sureio .thecf leai lllgr Side of the j 2 that is, the side atwhich the journal passes V p H pend upon the load, belt pull, and" speed. seat, provides communication"between the interior of the cup and the hereof the tube f 56. The-stem a t-also supports a tube6-if which forms acontinuation ofthe duct -16;

out of contact with the friction surface,

distinguished fromthe side'at which it runs into contaotawith the bearing,fthe pressure changes from, positive to mind, and remembering the influence that negative and V that from. this po nt a 'region of negative the belt pull, load and direction of rotation V have uponthe, position of the journal in the bearing, the point at which theducts.32 and 3 L shouldenter the. bearing can usually be determined without difliculty; If, however, a particular case presents vary in intensity; at different times as; for

n difiiculty-beoause: .of;-oppos1ng factors. which, perhaps, nayixz at which the-ducts should be brought into surface can be determined by: i

drillinga few testholes and either observing the action when 'oilfis poured "into? these holes, or by testing the pressure at the holes with any pressure indicating device.

While the arrangement of ducts. shown Figs, 1, 2: and 3 ;permits gravity to aid in carrying the, of oil; along thegducts towardthe frictionsur'faces, this arrangement is not necessary-and the operation of the apparatus would-be equally satisfactory f it. W636 so constructed-that-the current of air would; have to urge thefilm. of oil along against-1the-influence o-ffgravity; The quantity-of oil delivered to the? bearthe oil passage: towardthe friction surfaces maybe regulatediby varying the ve-J locity ofthe current, of; airtravelingthroughV. the ducts 4.6'and 48 as,

justing the ste ni i uponthe plug 38 so. as to.

uc s 1 and-, LS 'and direction of rotation of. the shaft is reversed,

for instance, by'ade V pa'rtly out oft communicationbetween th6' l 42 and 46; In casethe itis merely necessary toturn the steni li on i V thejplu'g 38 through an 7 angle of 180,"thus withfthe. ductaO. and the, ducti48- into. communication; with the duct 4211The.ap'paia. TAX 5;

tus will then operate as above described. It, w ll be readily understood; that. the

"bringing theyduet 46 into eommunicationI V flow of air through the bearing thatjis-pro- 'duced by this apparatus is. directly beneficialin cooling the bearing.

a The method in accordance with which the present apparatus operates is not claimed in this application but is made the subject matter of another application Serial bid-683,411 filed concurrently herewith,

The broad claims to subject-matter common to this application and applicants copending application Serial No. 683,413, filed concurrently herewith, are made inthe latter Case. V i I Having thus described. my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'of the United States is 1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a containerv for holding a body of. oil, means for causing gas to pass through the oil in said container and means for conducting the oil entrained by the gas to the surface to b lubricated.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a member having a friction surface, a duct leading to sald surface,

a container for holding a body of oil and I means for causing gas to pass through the oil in said container and to carry oil bubbles into said duct. i

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a member having ai'friction surface, an oil reservoir, anoil duct leading from said friction surface and opening into said reservoir at a point above the level of the oil in the reservoir and'means for causing gas to pass through the oil in the reservoir into said duct.

a. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a member having a friction surface, an oil reservoir, an oil duct leading from said friction surface to a point above the level of the oil in the reservoir, means for creating suction at the point at which the duct opens into the friction surface, and connections for conducting air through the oil in the reservoir to said duct.

An apparatus of the character de scribed, comprising a member having a friction surface, a duct leading to said surface, means for causing a current of gas to flow along said duct toward said surface, an oil reservoir, and means through the oil in said reservoir and causing it to carry oil bubbles into said duct.

6. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a memberhaving a friction surface, an oil reservoir, an oil duct arranged to'conduct oil fromsaid reservoir to said surface, means for causing a current of gas-to flow through at least a portion of said duct, and means for utilizing fluid pressure tion surface, a

to lift oil from said reservoir into said duct.

'7. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a member having a fricduct leading from a point for forcing gas pressure is created by the movement of said shaft to a point at which negative pressure is created by-said movement, and an'oil reservoir, said duct having communication with the atmosphere and communicating with the oil in said reservoir at a point between the positive pressure side of the'bearing surface and the point at which the duct communicates with the atmosphere.

1 9. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a member having a friction surface, an oil reservoir, an oil duct leading from said friction surface and opening into said reservoir at a point above the level of the oil therein, means for causing gas to pass through the oil in said reservoir into said duct and means by which the fiowof gas can be regulated. V 10. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a member having a fric'- tion surface, a device moving over the friction surface of said member and cooperating therewith to create fluid pressures di fi'ering in intensity at different points on said surface, an oil reservoir, and connections between said reservoir and said points'to cause said fluid pressures to cotiperate in forcing oil from the reservoir to the friction surface.

11. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a bearing, an oil reservoir, a duct leading from a point on the friction surface of said bearing and having communication with the oil in said reservoir, a duct leading from said friction surface on the side opposite to said point and opening into said reservoir above the level of the oil in the reservoir, and means for conducting air through the oil from one duct to the other.

12. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a bearing, an oil reservoir, a duct leading from a point on the friction surface of said bearing andhaving communication with the oil in said reservoir, a duct leading from said friction surface on the side opposite to said point and opening into'said reservoir above the level of the oil in the reservoir, means for conducting air through the oil from one duct to the other, and means for interchanging the connections between saidducts and the points on the friction surface at which the ducts open.

13. An apparatus of "the character de scribed, comprising abearing, an oil reser- I said hearingto point substantial l-y' a the second duct opening into;sa'id bearing at the side opposite the entrance of the first? a V. secondduct opening into said bearing at bottom of the reservoir, means for preventing. 011 fromfl owing through said duct, a

duct and opening into the reservoir [at a point above the level of the oil therein, and a duct positioned in the reservoir to conduct gas: from one duct to the other. I V

14.' An; apparatus of the character described, comprising a: bearin'g,;an oil reservoir, an oil duct leading from oneside of 'said bearing-t0 a point substantiallyat the bottomof the reservoir, means ifor preventingfloil from flowing. through said d uct', a

the s'ide opposite the entranceof the first a member through which said ducts pass adjustable to partially close said ducts or duct and opening into the; reservoir" at a point. above the level of the oil therein, a duct positioned in the reservoirv to conduct gasfrom one of said ducts tothe other, and

toreverse the relations" between the points Where the. du'ctsopen into'said bearing and the points Where they enter the reservoir.

scribed, comprising a bearing having a friction surface, a bushing therein, said bushing having two grooves extendingaround it andopening respectively into opposite sides of the friction surface of the bearing, a stem supported:- above" sa d bearing, an oil cup 7 ducts communicating respectively with said grooves and being mounted for moven enti to interchange the relation between it's-ducts and the grooves, a-chec'kvalve forprevent} I ing the flow: ofio'rl into one of sa1'd-=ducts,:a

curved: tube communicatingi at" one end With one duct of the stem-and having its other' endpositioned above the second duct, and a tube positioned invsa'id cup for conducting' air-from one duct to the other,,0ne1of-said ducts being open to the atmosphere at a point above'the level of the oil in the cup and: the other having communication with theinterior. of vthe oil cup near the bottom of theclll'); 3

'16." An apparatus-of the character dc-' 1 scribed: comprising a bearing; two ducts leading from points on the friction surface of said bearing separated by a considerable angular d1stance,an oil reservoir, tWo ducts leading from said reservoir and arranged to communicate respectively with the ducts? 1 le adin-ggfromfsaid bearing, and means Where- -bythe relationbetw'een thetwo sets. of ducts 'niavbeinterchanged. p 5 'Int,,te'stiinony whereof I have signed my nametothis specification inthepresence of i .tWo subscribing itnesses i i Witnessesr H Z JOHN H. MCCREODY, 7 HELMER B. GRUSEF Copies of this patent may be obtai 'nedfor five cents each, by addressing the" Co1nmissioner fof Patents; I Washington-,1). C..} p 7 I 4 c --ALEXANDER1M; ALE AN EnQ I 

